Refrigerator and method of controlling the same

ABSTRACT

Provided is a refrigerator including: a carbonated water tank in which carbonated water is stored; a water tank supplying filtered water to the carbonated water tank; a carbon dioxide cylinder supplying carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank; and a controller, if the water level of carbonated water sensed by a water level sensor is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum water level, supplying the filtered water to the carbonated water tank, and if supply of the filtered water is completed, supplying the carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank so as to produce the carbonated water. If it is expected that the storage amount of the carbonated water is reduced or the user won&#39;t use the carbonated water for a while, carbonated water is automatically produced so that the user is not required to wait while the carbonate water is produced.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2013-0022515, filed on Feb. 28, 2013 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a refrigerator and amethod of controlling the same, and more particularly, to a refrigeratorincluding a carbonated water production device and a method ofcontrolling the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A refrigerator is a home appliance that keeps food fresh by including astorage compartment for storing food and a cold air supplying unit forsupplying cold air to the storage compartment. In accordance with auser's need, the refrigerator may include an ice-making device forgenerating ice and a dispenser that is capable of taking filtered wateror ice from the outside without opening a door.

A user has a need for obtaining a processed beverage in addition tofiltered water or ice from the refrigerator. However, refrigeratorsaccording to the related art provide filtered water or ice to the userbut do not provide a processed beverage.

SUMMARY

Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide arefrigerator that is capable of selectively taking filtered water andcarbonated water and automatically producing carbonated water if it isexpected that the storage amount of the carbonated water is reduced orthe user won't use the carbonated water for a while.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may belearned by practice of the invention.

In accordance with one aspect, a refrigerator includes: a carbonatedwater tank in which carbonated water is stored; a water level sensorsensing a water level of carbonated water stored in the carbonated watertank; a water tank supplying filtered water to the carbonated watertank; a carbon dioxide cylinder supplying carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank; and a controller, if the water level ofcarbonated water sensed by the water level sensor is less than or equalto a predetermined minimum water level, supplying the filtered water tothe carbonated water tank, and if supply of the filtered water iscompleted, supplying the carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank soas to produce the carbonated water, wherein, if the carbonated water isdischarged, the controller controls the water level sensor to sense thewater lever of the carbonated water stored in the carbonated water tank.

The refrigerator may further include a dispenser discharging thecarbonated water, wherein, if the carbonated water is discharged throughthe dispenser, the controller calculates an accumulated discharge timeat which all the carbonated water is discharged since the carbonatedwater has been produced.

If the accumulated discharge time is greater than or equal to apredetermined maximum accumulated discharge time, the controller mayproduce the carbonated water.

If the carbonated water is not discharged, the controller may calculatea discharge waiting time since the carbonated water has been discharged,and if the discharge waiting time is greater than or equal to apredetermined maximum discharge waiting time and the accumulateddischarge time is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximumaccumulated discharge time, the controller may produce the carbonatedwater.

In accordance with one aspect, a refrigerator includes: a carbonatedwater tank in which carbonated water is stored; a water level sensorsensing a water level of carbonated water stored in the carbonated watertank; a water tank supplying filtered water to the carbonated watertank; a carbon dioxide cylinder supplying carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank; and a controller, if the water level ofcarbonated water sensed by the water level sensor is less than or equalto a predetermined minimum water level, supplying the filtered water tothe carbonated water tank, and if supply of the filtered water iscompleted, supplying the carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank soas to produce the carbonated water.

The refrigerator may further include a dispenser discharging thecarbonated water, wherein, if the carbonated water is discharged throughthe dispenser, the controller calculates an accumulated discharge timeat which all the carbonated water is discharged since the carbonatedwater has been produced, and if the accumulated discharge time isgreater than or equal to a predetermined maximum accumulated dischargetime, the controller produces the carbonated water.

In accordance with one aspect, a refrigerator includes: a carbonatedwater tank in which carbonated water is stored; a water tank supplyingfiltered water to the carbonated water tank; a carbon dioxide cylindersupplying carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank; an input unit towhich a carbonated water production activation instruction to activateproduction of the carbonated water is input from a user; and acontroller, if the carbonated water production activation instruction toactivate production of the carbonated water is input from the userthrough the input unit, activating production of the carbonated water,supplying the filtered water to the carbonated water tank, and thensupplying the carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank so as producethe carbonated water.

If the carbonated water production activation instruction is input fromthe user, the controller may determine whether carbonated waterproduction is being performed when the carbonated water productionactivation instruction is input, and if it is determined that carbonatedwater production is being performed when the carbonated water productionactivation instruction is input, the controller may restart productionof carbonated water being performed.

In accordance one aspect, a method of controlling a refrigeratorincluding a carbonated water tank in which carbonated water is generatedand stored, includes: detecting a water level of the carbonated waterstored in the carbonated water tank; if the detected water level of thecarbonated water is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum waterlevel, supplying filtered water to the carbonated water tank; and ifsupply of the filtered water is completed, supplying carbon dioxide tothe carbonated water tank.

The supplying of the carbon dioxide may include detecting a water levelof the filtered water stored in the carbonated water tank, and if thedetected water level of the filtered water is greater than or equal to apredetermined maximum water level, the supplying of the carbon dioxidemay include supplying the carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank.

The detecting of the water level of the carbonated water may include, ifa carbonated water discharge instruction to discharge the carbonatedwater is input from a user, sensing the water level of the carbonatedwater.

The method may further include: if a carbonated water dischargeinstruction to discharge the carbonated water is input from a user,discharging the carbonated water; if discharge of the carbonated wateris completed, calculating a time at which the carbonated water isdischarged; and calculating an accumulated discharge time at which thecarbonated water is discharged since the carbonated water has beenproduced, based on the calculated time at which the carbonated water isdischarged.

The method may further include, if the accumulated discharge time of thecarbonated water is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximumaccumulated discharge time, producing the carbonated water.

The method may further include: calculating a carbonated water dischargeinstruction waiting time corresponding to a time that elapses since thecarbonated water discharge instruction has been input; and if theaccumulated carbonated water discharge time is greater than or equal toa predetermined maximum accumulated discharge time and the carbonatedwater discharge instruction waiting time is greater than or equal to apredetermined maximum discharge instruction waiting time, producing thecarbonated water.

In accordance one aspect, a method of controlling a refrigeratorincluding a carbonated water tank in which carbonated water is generatedand stored, includes: if a carbonated water production instruction toproduce the carbonated water is input from a user, determining whethercarbonated water production is being performed when the carbonated waterproduction instruction is input; and if it is determined that carbonatedwater production is not being performed when the carbonated waterproduction instruction is input, producing the carbonated water.

The method may further include, if it is determined that carbonatedwater production is being performed when the carbonated water productioninstruction is input, restarting carbonated water production beingperformed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the exterior of a refrigerator accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the inside of the refrigerator illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an assembling structure of a carbonatedwater production module of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a cover is detached fromthe carbonated water production module of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a process of producing and dischargingcarbonated water of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control flow of therefrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a control panel of the refrigerator ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the case that the refrigerator of FIG. 1receives operating instructions related to carbonated water productionfrom a user;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views schematically illustrating the case that therefrigerator of FIG. 1 produces carbonated water;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the case that the refrigerator ofFIG. 1 starts producing carbonated water in response to a user'scarbonated water production instructions;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the case that the refrigerator ofFIG. 1 starts producing carbonated water by determining whether thecarbonated water is produced;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a method of producing carbonated waterusing the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are flowcharts illustrating the method of producingcarbonated water illustrated in FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are flowcharts illustrating control of therefrigerator of FIG. 1 when an exceptional situation occurs duringcarbonated water production;

FIGS. 15A through 15C are flowcharts illustrating the case that therefrigerator of FIG. 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to a carbonated watertank;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the case that the refrigerator ofFIG. 1 senses pressure of carbon dioxide;

FIG. 17 is a view schematically illustrating the case that therefrigerator of FIG. 1 discharges carbonated water; and

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating the case that the refrigerator of FIG. 1discharges carbonated water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Configurations shown in embodiments enumerated in the presentspecification and the drawings are just exemplary embodiments, and itshould be understood that there are various modified examples capable ofreplacing the embodiments of the present specification and the drawingsat the time of filing the present application.

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the exterior of a refrigerator accordingto an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the inside of therefrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 according to the currentembodiment may include a body 10, storage compartments 20 and 30disposed in the body 10, and a cold air supplying unit (not shown) forsupplying cold air to the storage compartments 20 and 30.

The body 10 may include an inner case that constitutes the storagecompartments 20 and 30, an outer case that is combined with an outerside of the inner case and constitutes the exterior of the refrigerator1, and a heat insulating material disposed between the inner case andthe outer case.

The storage compartments 20 and 30 may be partitioned off into an upperrefrigerator compartment 20 and a lower freezer compartment 30 by anintermediate wall 11. The refrigerator compartment 20 may be maintainedat a temperature of about 3° C. so as to keep food under refrigeration,and the freezer compartment 30 may be maintained at a temperature ofabout −18.5° C. so as to keep food frozen. A shelf 23 on which food canbe put, and at least one accommodation box 27 in which food is kept in asealed state, may be provided in the refrigerator compartment 20.

Also, an ice-making compartment 81 in which ice can be made, may beformed at an upper corner of the refrigerator compartment 20 to bepartitioned off into the refrigerator compartment 20 by an ice-makingcompartment case 82. An ice-making device 80 including an ice-makingtray in which ice is made and an ice bucket in which the ice made in theice-making tray is stored, may be disposed in the ice-making compartment81.

A water tank 70 in which water can be stored, may be disposed in therefrigerator compartment 20. The water tank 70 may be disposed in aspace between a plurality of accommodation boxes 27, as illustrated inFIG. 2. However, the location of water tank 70 is not limited thereto,and it is enough that the water tank 70 may be disposed only in therefrigerator compartment 20 so that water in the water tank 70 can becooled by cold air inside the refrigerator compartment 20.

The water tank 70 may be connected to an external water supply source(see 40 of FIG. 5), such as a water pipe, and may store filtered waterfiltered by a water filter (see 50 of FIG. 5). A flow path conversionvalve (see 60 of FIG. 5) may be disposed in a water supply pipe thatconnects the external water supply source 40 and the water tank 70, andwater may be supplied to the ice-making device 80 via the flow pathconversion valve 60.

The refrigerator compartment 20 and the freezer compartment 30 may haveopen front sides via which food can be put in or taken out from therefrigerator compartment 20 and the freezer compartment 30, the openfront side of the refrigerator compartment 20 may be opened or closed bya pair of rotation doors 21 and 22 that are hinge-coupled to the body10, and the open front side of the freezer compartment 30 may be openedor closed by a sliding door 31 that may slide with respect to the body10. Door guards 24 in which food can be stored, may be disposed in rearsides of the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22.

Gaskets 28 may be disposed at rear edges of the refrigerator compartmentdoors 21 and 22 and may regulate cold air in the refrigeratorcompartment 20 by sealing a space between the refrigerator compartmentdoors 21 and 22 and the body 10 when the refrigerator compartment doors21 and 22 are closed. Also, a rotation bar 26 may be disposed in onerefrigerator compartment door 21 of the refrigerator compartment doors21 and 22 and may regulate cold air in the refrigerator compartment 20by sealing a space between the refrigerator compartment door 21 and therefrigerator compartment door 22 when the refrigerator compartment doors21 and 22 are closed.

Also, a dispenser 90 may be disposed in one refrigerator compartmentdoor 21 of the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22 and may takefiltered water, carbonated water, or ice from the outside withoutopening the refrigerator compartment door 21.

The dispenser 90 may include an intake space 91 in which water or icecan be taken by inserting a container such as a cup, a dispenser lever93 that causes the dispenser 90 to operate so that filtered water,carbonated water, or ice can be discharged, and a dispenser nozzle 95through which filtered water or carbonated water is discharged. A usermay input a carbonated water discharge instruction or a filtered waterdischarge instruction to the refrigerator 1 by pressurizing thedispenser lever 93 and may input a carbonated water dischargetermination instruction or a filtered water discharge terminationinstruction to the refrigerator 1 by stopping pressurizing of thedispenser lever 93. That is, if the dispenser lever 93 is pressurized,the refrigerator 1 discharges filtered water or carbonated water untilpressurization of the dispenser lever 93 is terminated.

Also, the dispenser 90 may include an ice guide path 94 that connectsthe ice-making device 80 and the intake space 91 so that ice made by theice-making device 80 can be discharged into the intake space 91.

A control panel 300 receives operating instructions of the refrigerator1 from the user and displays operating information of the refrigerator 1to the user. The control panel 300 will be described below in detail.

A carbonated water production module 100 may be mounted in a rear sideof the refrigerator compartment door 21 in which the dispenser 90 of therefrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 is disposed. The carbonated water productionmodule 100 will be described below in detail.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an assembling structure of a carbonatedwater production module of the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is aview illustrating a state in which a cover is detached from thecarbonated water production module of the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1, andFIG. 5 is a view illustrating a process of producing and dischargingcarbonated water of the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1.

The carbonated water production module 100 is used to produce carbonatedwater in the refrigerator 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5, thecarbonated water production module 100 may include a carbon dioxidecylinder 120 in which high-pressure carbon dioxide is stored, acarbonated water tank 110 in which filtered water and carbon dioxide aremixed with each other to make carbonated water and the carbonated wateris stored, a module case 140 that includes accommodation spaces 151,152, and 153 in which the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 and the carbonatedwater tank 110 are accommodated and that is combined with the rear sideof the refrigerator compartment door 21, and an integrated valveassembly 130 that controls the flow of filtered water or carbonatedwater.

Carbon dioxide having a high pressure of about 45 to 60 bar may bestored in the carbon dioxide cylinder 120. The carbon dioxide cylinder120 may be mounted in a cylinder connector 157 of the module case 140and may be accommodated in a lower accommodation space 153 of the modulecase 140.

Carbon dioxide in the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 may be supplied to thecarbonated water tank 110 via a carbon dioxide supply flow path 200 thatconnects the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 and the carbonated water tank110.

A carbon dioxide regulator 201 that regulates pressure of carbondioxide, a pressure sensor 204 that senses a discharge pressure ofcarbon dioxide, a carbon dioxide supply valve 202 that opens or closesthe carbon dioxide supply flow path 200, and a carbon dioxide backflowprevention valve 203 that prevents backflow of carbon dioxide may bedisposed in the carbon dioxide supply flow path 200.

The carbon dioxide regulator 201 may be disposed in a carbon dioxideoutlet of the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 and may regulate the pressureof carbon dioxide discharged from the carbon dioxide cylinder 120. Indetail, the carbon dioxide regulator 201 may reduce the pressure ofcarbon dioxide supplied to the carbonated water tank 110 to about 8.5bar.

The pressure sensor 204 is disposed in a carbon dioxide outlet of thecarbon dioxide regulator 201. Also, the pressure sensor 204 senses thepressure of carbon dioxide decompressed by the carbon dioxide regulator201 and outputs a signal corresponding to the sensed pressure. If thepressure of carbon dioxide decompressed by the carbon dioxide regulator201 is reduced less than a predetermined reference pressure, thepressure sensor 204 for carbon dioxide may adopt a pressure switch thatoutputs a signal corresponding to the reduced pressure of carbondioxide.

In the carbonated water tank 110, carbon dioxide supplied by the carbondioxide cylinder 120 and filtered water supplied by the water tank 70may be mixed with each other to produce carbonated water, and theproduced carbonated water may be stored.

A filtered water supply flow path 210 to which filtered water issupplied from the water tank 70, a carbonated water discharge flow path230 on which produced carbonated water is discharged through thedispenser nozzle 95, and an exhaust flow path 250 on which carbondioxide that remains in the carbonated water tank 110 is exhausted so asto supply filtered water to the carbonated water tank 110, in additionto the above-described carbon dioxide supply flow path 200 may beconnected to the carbonated water tank 110.

A filtered water supply valve 211 may be disposed in the filtered watersupply flow path 210 to open or close the filtered water supply flowpath 210. A carbonated water discharge valve 231 that opens or closesthe carbonated water discharge flow path 230 and a carbonated waterregulator 232 that regulates the pressure of discharged carbonated watermay be disposed in the carbonated water discharge flow path 230. Anexhaust valve 251 may be disposed in the exhaust flow path 250 to openor close the exhaust flow path 250. Here, the filtered water supplyvalve 211 and the carbonated water discharge valve 231 may be solenoidvalves.

A water level sensor 111 that may measure the amount of filtered watersupplied to the carbonated water tank 110 and a temperature sensor 112that may measure the temperature of filtered water supplied to thecarbonated water tank 110 or the temperature of carbonated waterproduced in the carbonated water tank 110 may be disposed in thecarbonated water tank 110.

Also, a safety valve 114 may be disposed in the carbonated water tank110 to discharge high-pressure carbon dioxide when the high-pressurecarbon dioxide exceeding a predetermined pressure is supplied to thecarbonated water tank 110 due to a malfunction of the carbon dioxideregulator 201.

The carbonated water tank 110 may be formed with a predetermined sizeand may be formed to accommodate filtered water of about 1 L. Also, thecarbonated water tank 110 may be formed of stainless steel so as tominimize the size of the carbonated water tank 110, to withstand a highpressure, and to have a corrosion resistance. The carbonated water tank110 may be accommodated in a first upper accommodation space 151 of themodule case 140. The carbonated water tank 110 may be supported by abottom support part 155 and a guide part 156 of the module case 140.

Also, a water leak sensing sensor (115) that senses water leak of thecarbonated water tank 110 may be disposed in the first upperaccommodation space 151 or a second upper accommodation space 152. Thewater leak sensing sensor may include a pair of electrodes and may applya voltage between the pair of electrodes and sense a current flowingthrough the pair of electrodes, thereby sensing water leak.

The above-described filtered water supply valve 211 and the carbonatedwater discharge valve 231 may constitute an integrated valve assembly130 together with a filtered water discharge valve 221 disposed in afiltered water discharge flow path 220 on which filtered water isdirectly discharged from the water tank 70 to the intake space 91. Thatis, the filtered water supply valve 211, the carbonated water dischargevalve 231, and the filtered water discharge valve 221 may be formedintegrally with one another. Here, the filtered water discharge valve221 may be a solenoid valve, like the filtered water supply valve 211and the carbonated water discharge valve 231.

The integrated valve assembly 130 may include a first inlet port 130 aconnected to the water tank 70, a second inlet port 130 b connected tothe carbonated water tank 110, a first outlet port 130 c connected tothe carbonated water tank 110, and a second outlet port 130 d and athird outlet port 130 e that are connected to the dispenser nozzle 95.

The filtered water supply flow path 210 and the filtered water dischargeflow path 220 may pass through the first inlet port 130 a, and thecarbonated water discharge flow path 230 may pass through the secondinlet port 130 b. The filtered water supply flow path 210 may passthrough the first outlet port 130 c, the filtered water discharge flowpath 220 may pass through the second outlet port 130 d, and thecarbonated water discharge flow path 230 may pass through the thirdoutlet port 130 e.

However, the filtered water supply valve 211, the filtered waterdischarge valve 221, and the carbonated water discharge valve 231 may beindividually opened or closed.

Also, in the present embodiment, the integrated valve assembly 130includes three individual valves 211, 221, and 231, as described above.However, the integrated valve assembly 130 may include one three-wayflow path conversion valve that allows filtered water to selectivelyflow into the carbonated water tank 110 or the intake space 91 from thewater tank 70 and another three-way flow path conversion valve thatsupplies filtered water from the water tank 70 to the intake space 91 orsupplies carbonated water from the carbonated water tank 110 to theintake space 91.

The integrated valve assembly 130 may be accommodated in the secondupper accommodation space 152 of the module case 140.

The filtered water discharge flow path 220 on which filtered water isdirectly discharged from the water tank 70 to the intake space 91, andthe carbonated water discharge flow path 230 on which carbonated waterin the carbonated water tank 110 is discharged into the intake space 91may meet at one point and may constitute an integrated discharge flowpath 240.

The filtered water discharge flow path 220 and the carbonated waterdischarge flow path 230 may meet at an outside of the integrated valveassembly 130. Thus, the dispenser nozzle 95 may be disposed by formingthe filtered water discharge flow path 220 and the carbonated waterdischarge flow path 230 integrally with each other. Of course, thefiltered water discharge flow path 220 and the carbonated waterdischarge flow path 230 may not meet but may extend to the dispensernozzle 95 separately.

A remaining water discharge prevention valve 241 may be disposed on theintegrated discharge flow path 240 to open or close the integrateddischarge flow path 240 so that filtered water or carbonated waterremaining in the integrated discharge flow path 240 cannot be dischargedinto the intake space 91 in a state in which the filtered waterdischarge valve 221 and the carbonated water discharge valve 231 areclosed. The remaining water discharge prevention valve 241 may bedisposed at an end of the integrated discharge flow path 240, ifpossible.

The module case 140 may include a back case 150 having one open side anda cover 160 that is combined with the open side of the back case 150.

The module case 140 may include at least one insertion groove 154 thatis formed in a position corresponding to at least one insertionprotrusion 25 formed on the rear side of the refrigerator compartmentdoor 21. Thus, the insertion protrusion 25 is inserted into theinsertion groove 154 so that the module case 140 can be easily mountedin the rear side of the refrigerator compartment door 21. However, thecombination structure is just an exemplary structure, and the modulecase 140 may be detachably mounted in the rear side of the refrigeratorcompartment door 21 through various combination structures including ascrew fastening structure, a hook coupling structure, and the like, inaddition to the insertion structure.

Also, an insertion groove 158 and an insertion protrusion 162 may beformed in a position where the insertion groove 158 and the insertionprotrusion 162 correspond to each other, of the back case 150 and thecover 160 so that the cover 160 can be combined with the back case 150.However, the combination structure is also an exemplary structure, andthe back case 150 and the cover 160 may be detachably combined with eachother through various combination structures.

The carbon dioxide cylinder 120, the carbonated water tank 110, and theintegrated valve assembly 130 inside the module case 140 may not beexposed to the outside in a state in which the cover 160 is combinedwith the back case 150. Thus, the refrigerator compartment door 21 maybe aesthetically appealing.

However, air vents 161 that communicate with the inside and the outsideof the module case 140 may be formed in the cover 160 so that, even whenthe cover 160 is combined with the back case 150, cold air in thestorage compartment can be supplied to the carbonated water tank 110inside the module case 140 and carbonated water stored in the carbonatedwater tank 110 can be cooled or maintained at an appropriatetemperature.

Also, the cover 160 may be detachably disposed to include a first cover160 a that opens or closes the upper accommodation spaces 151 and 152 inwhich the carbonated water tank 110 and the integrated valve assembly130 are accommodated, and a second cover 160 b that opens or closes thelower accommodation space 153 in which the carbon dioxide cylinder 120is accommodated. The first cover 160 a and the second cover 160 b may beindividually opened or closed.

Thus, when carbon dioxide in the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 isexhausted and the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 is replaced with anotherone, the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 may be replaced with another one bydetaching only the second cover 160 b without the need of opening thefirst cover 160 a. Thus, even when the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 isreplaced with another one, the first cover 160 a may be maintained in aclosed state and cold air in the upper accommodation space 151 may beprevented from flowing out to the outside.

In another point of view, the carbonated water production module 100 ofthe refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 may include a first module having thecarbonated water tank 110 and the first accommodation space 151 in whichthe carbonated water tank 110 is accommodated, and a second modulehaving the carbon dioxide cylinder 120, and the second accommodationspace 153 in which the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 is accommodated.

In this case, a second module may be disposed below the first module.Also, the second module may be disposed at a side of the ice guide path94 on which ice in the ice-making device 80 are guided to the intakespace 91.

Also, the first module may include the first cover 160 a that opens orcloses the first accommodation space 151, and the second module mayinclude the second cover 160 b that opens or closes the secondaccommodation space 153 individually from the first cover 160 a.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control flow of therefrigerator 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a controlpanel of the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 includes thewater level sensor 111, the temperature sensor 112, the water leaksensing sensor 115, the pressure sensor 204, the exhaust valve 251, thecarbon dioxide supply valve 202, the remaining water dischargeprevention valve 241 and the integrated valve assembly 130 in which thefiltered water supply valve 211, the filtered water discharge valve 221,and the carbonated water discharge valve 231 are formed integrally withone another, so as to produce carbonated water. Also, the refrigerator 1includes the control panel 300 that receives operating instructions fromthe user and displays operating information of the refrigerator 1, acontroller 310 that controls an operation of the refrigerator 1, and astorage unit 320 that stores a program or data for controlling therefrigerator 1.

Descriptions of the above-described water level sensor 111, temperaturesensor 112, water leak sensing sensor 115, carbon dioxide pressuresensor 204, the exhaust valve 251, the carbon dioxide supply valve 202,and the integrated valve assembly 130 in which the filtered water supplyvalve 211, the filtered water discharge valve 221, and the carbonatedwater discharge valve 231 are formed integrally with one another will beomitted.

The control panel 300 includes an input unit to which a user's operatinginstructions are input, and a display unit that displays operatinginformation of the refrigerator 1. In particular, the control panel 300includes a carbonated water production instruction input unit 303 towhich the user's operating instructions related to carbonated waterproduction are input, and a carbonated water production informationdisplay unit 301 that displays operating information of the refrigerator1 related to carbonated water production.

The carbonated water production instruction input unit 303 receives acarbonated water production activation instruction to activatecarbonated water production, a carbonated water production deactivationinstruction to deactivate carbonated water production, and a carbonatedwater concentration selection instruction to select the concentration (afirst step, a second step, and a third step) of carbonated waterproduced by the refrigerator 1 from the user. An input unit includingthe carbonated water production instruction input unit 303 may adopt apressurization type switch or a touchpad.

The carbonated water production information display unit 301 includes acarbonated water concentration display region 301 a in which theconcentration of carbonated water produced by the refrigerator 1 isdisplayed, a carbonated water production display region 301 b in whichactivation of carbonated water production of the refrigerator 1 isdisplayed, a carbonated water production situation display region 301 cin which a carbonated water production proceeding situation of therefrigerator 1 is displayed, and a carbon dioxide low-pressure displayregion 305 in which a replacement time of the carbon dioxide cylinder120 is displayed. The display unit including the carbonated waterproduction information display unit 301 may adopt a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) panel or a light emitting diode (LED) panel.

The control panel 300 of the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 includes the inputunit and the display unit separately. However, aspects of the embodimentare not limited thereto, and the control panel 300 may adopt atouchscreen panel (TSP) in which the input unit and the display unit areformed integrally with each other.

The controller 310 controls the water level sensor 111, the temperaturesensor 112, the carbon dioxide pressure sensor 204, the exhaust valve251, the carbon dioxide supply valve 202, and the integrated valveassembly 130 in which the filtered water supply valve 211, the filteredwater discharge valve 221, and the carbonated water discharge valve 231are formed integrally with one another based on information transmittedfrom the control panel 300.

The storage unit 320 may store operating information of the refrigerator1 temporarily in addition to the program and data for controlling therefrigerator 1.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the case that the refrigerator of FIG. 1receives operating instructions related to carbonated water productionfrom the user.

If power is initially applied to the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator 1sets carbonated water production in a deactivated state and displaysthat carbonated water production has been deactivated (OFF) in thecarbonated water production display region 301 b of the carbonated waterproduction information display unit 301, as illustrated in (a) of FIG.8.

The user may input the carbonated water production activationinstruction to activate carbonated water production or the carbonatedwater production deactivation instruction to deactivate carbonated waterproduction to the refrigerator 1 through the carbonated water productioninstruction input unit 303. In detail, if the user touches or pressesthe carbonated water production instruction input unit 303 for a longtime in a state in which carbonated water production is deactivated, therefrigerator 1 activates carbonated water production. Also, therefrigerator 1 displays that carbonated water production has beenactivated (ON) in the carbonated water production display region 301 band displays “first step” or “low concentration” that is an initialvalue in the carbonated water production concentration display region301 a, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 8.

If the user touches or presses the carbonated water productioninstruction input unit 303 for a long time in a state in whichcarbonated water production has been activated, the refrigerator 1deactivates carbonated water production and displays that carbonatedwater production has been deactivated (OFF) in the carbonated waterproduction display region 301 b.

Also, the user may select the concentration of carbonated water throughthe carbonated water production instruction input unit 303. In detail,if the user touches or presses the carbonated water productioninstruction input unit 303 for a short time in a state in whichcarbonated water production has been activated, the refrigerator 1increases the concentration of carbonated water produced by one step.That is, when the concentration of carbonated water is “first step” or“low concentration” and if the user touches or presses the carbonatedwater production instruction input unit 303 for a short time, therefrigerator 1 increases the concentration of carbonated water to“second step” or “medium concentration” and displays “second step” or“medium concentration” in the carbonated water production concentrationdisplay region 301 a, as illustrated in (c) of FIG. 8. When theconcentration of carbonated water is “second step” or “mediumconcentration” and if the user touches or presses the carbonated waterproduction instruction input unit 303 for a short time, the refrigerator1 increases the concentration of carbonated water to “third step” or“high concentration”. However, when the concentration of carbonatedwater is “third step” or “high concentration” and if the user touches orpresses the carbonated water production instruction input unit 303 for ashort time, the refrigerator 1 decreases the concentration of carbonatedwater to “first step” or “low concentration”.

When the refrigerator 1 is producing carbonated water, the refrigerator1 displays that carbonated water is being produced in the carbonatedwater production situation display region 301 c, as illustrated in (d)of FIG. 8.

As described above, the configuration of the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1has been described in detail.

Hereinafter, producing carbonated water using the refrigerator 1 of FIG.1 will be described. The refrigerator 1 produces carbonated water in astate in which carbonated water production has been activated and doesnot produce carbonated water in a state in which carbonated waterproduction has been deactivated.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views schematically illustrating the case that therefrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 produces carbonated water.

In briefly describing producing carbonated water using the refrigerator1 of FIG. 1 with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, in order to producecarbonated water, the refrigerator 1 first supplies filtered water tothe carbonated water tank 110 and then supplies carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank 110. Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 waits for apredetermined amount of time until the supplied carbon dioxide isdissolved in the filtered water.

FIG. 9A illustrates the case that the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 suppliesfiltered water to the carbonated water tank 110, and if the refrigerator1 opens the filtered water supply valve 211, filtered water is movedalong the filtered water supply flow path 210 from the water tank 70 andis supplied to the carbonated water tank 110, as illustrated in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9B illustrates the case that the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 suppliescarbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110, and if the refrigerator1 opens the carbon dioxide supply valve 202, carbon dioxide dischargedfrom the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 is decompressed by the carbondioxide regulator 201, and the decompressed carbon dioxide is movedalong the carbon dioxide supply flow path 200 and is supplied to thecarbonated water tank 110.

In this way, carbon dioxide supplied to the carbonated water tank 110 isdissolved in filtered water so that carbonated water can be produced.

Hereinafter, a method of producing carbonated water using therefrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 will be described in detail.

If the user inputs a carbonated water production instruction, therefrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 may produce carbonated water manually, and if apredetermined condition is satisfied, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 mayproduce carbonated water automatically.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the case that the refrigerator 1 ofFIG. 1 starts producing carbonated water in response to a user'scarbonated water production instructions.

Referring to FIG. 10, first, the refrigerator 1 determines whether acarbonated water production activation instruction is input from theuser (680). As described above, the user may touch or press thecarbonated water production instruction input unit 303 disposed in thecontrol panel 300 for a long time, thereby inputting the carbonatedwater production activation instruction.

If it is determined that the carbonated water production activationinstruction is input (YES of 680), the refrigerator 1 determines whethercarbonated water is being produced (682). This is because, in order toproduce carbonated water, when the user inputs a carbonated waterproduction deactivation instruction in a state in which carbonated waterproduction has been activated and then inputs the carbonated waterproduction activation instruction, the carbonated water productionactivation instruction may be input when carbonated water is beingproduced.

If it is determined that carbonated water production is being performed(YES of 682), the refrigerator 1 restarts production of carbonated waterbeing performed (686).

If it is determined that carbonated water production is not beingperformed (NO of 682), the refrigerator 1 starts production ofcarbonated water (684).

In this way, if the carbonated water production activation instructionis input by the user in a state in which carbonated water production hasbeen deactivated, the refrigerator 1 starts or restarts production ofcarbonated water.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the case that the refrigerator 1 ofFIG. 1 starts producing carbonated water by determining whether thecarbonated water is produced.

Referring to FIG. 11, first, the refrigerator 1 initializes anaccumulated carbonated water discharge time (610). The accumulatedcarbonated water discharge time means a total time at which therefrigerator 1 discharges carbonated water by operating the dispenserlever 93 disposed in the dispenser 90 after carbonated water has beenproduced. Since carbonated water is discharged by the carbonated waterregulator 232 at a constant speed, the amount of carbonated water thatremains in the carbonated water tank 110 can be estimated from theaccumulated carbonated water discharge time.

Next, the refrigerator 1 initializes a carbonated water dischargeinstruction waiting time (615). The carbonated water dischargeinstruction waiting time means a time that elapses since carbonatedwater has been discharged by operating the dispenser lever 93.

Next, the refrigerator 1 determines whether a carbonated water dischargeinstruction is input from the user (620). As described above, the usermay input the carbonated water discharge instruction by pressurizing thedispenser lever 93 disposed in the dispenser 90.

If the carbonated water discharge instruction is input from the user(YES of 620), the refrigerator 1 opens the carbonated water dischargevalve 231 to discharge carbonated water (622). As described above, ifthe carbonated water discharge valve 231 is opened, carbonated water isdischarged by pressure of the carbonated water tank 110 at a constantspeed.

While carbonated water is discharged, the refrigerator 1 calculates acarbonated water discharge time (630). In detail, the refrigerator 1 maycalculate an opening time of the carbonated water discharge valve 231 oran operating time of the dispenser lever 93, thereby calculating thecarbonated water discharge time.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 updates an accumulated carbonated waterdischarge time (635). In detail, the refrigerator 1 may store the sum ofthe carbonated water discharge time calculated in Operation 630 and theexisting accumulated carbonated water discharge time, thereby updatingthe accumulated carbonated water discharge time.

In this way, the refrigerator 1 may calculate the carbonated waterdischarge time whenever carbonated water is discharged and may updatethe accumulated carbonated water discharge time based on the calculatedcarbonated water discharge time. The refrigerator 1 may estimate acarbonated water discharge amount after carbonated water has beenproduced, from the calculated accumulated carbonated water dischargetime and may estimate a carbonated water remaining amount that remainsin the carbonated water tank 110 from the carbonated water dischargeamount.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 senses a water level of carbonatedwater using the water level sensor 111 (640). In this way, therefrigerator 1 senses the water level of carbonated water when the userinputs the carbonated water discharge instruction. This is because thewater level sensor 111 senses the water level of carbonated water basedon a current value flowing between a plurality of electrodes, if thewater level sensor 111 senses the water level of carbonated watercontinuously, due to a chemical reaction between carbonated water andthe electrodes, bubbles are generated around the electrodes and thus anerror in sensing the water level may occur. In order to prevent amalfunction of the water level sensor 111, the refrigerator 1 senses thewater level of carbonated water when the user inputs the carbonatedwater discharge instruction.

Also, the refrigerator 1 compares the sensed water level of carbonatedwater with a minimum water level (645), and if the sensed water level ofcarbonated water is less than or equal to the minimum water level (YESof 645), the refrigerator 1 starts production of carbonated water (650).That is, the refrigerator 1 measures the amount of carbonated water thatremains in the carbonated water tank 110 after carbonated water has beendischarged, and if the amount of remaining carbonated water is less thana reference value, the refrigerator 1 starts production of carbonatedwater.

If the sensed water level of carbonated water is greater than theminimum water level (NO of 645), the refrigerator 1 goes back toOperation 615 and initializes the carbonated water discharge instructionwaiting time (615). Since carbonated water has been discharged inresponse to the carbonated water discharge instruction, the carbonatedwater discharge instruction waiting time is initialized.

If the carbonated water discharge instruction is not input in Operation620 (NO of 620), the refrigerator 1 calculates the carbonated waterdischarge instruction waiting time (655). Subsequently, the refrigerator1 compares the carbonated water discharge instruction waiting time witha predetermined maximum waiting time (660). As a result of comparison,if the carbonated water discharge instruction waiting time is greaterthan or equal to the predetermined maximum waiting time (YES of 660),the refrigerator 1 compares the accumulated carbonated water dischargetime with a predetermined maximum accumulated discharge time (665), andif the accumulated carbonated water discharge time is greater than orequal to the predetermined maximum accumulated discharge time (YES of665), the refrigerator 1 starts production of carbonated water.

The carbonated water discharge instruction waiting time means a timethat elapses since the user has input the carbonated water dischargeinstruction, as described above. In this way, the carbonated waterdischarge instruction waiting time is greater than the predeterminedmaximum waiting time means that the user has not used carbonated waterfor a long time or the user won't use carbonated water for a while.Also, the discharge amount of carbonated water and the remaining amountof carbonated water can be estimated from the accumulated carbonatedwater discharge time.

In this way, if it is expected that the user won't input the carbonatedwater discharge instruction for a while and it is determined that apredetermined amount of carbonated water has been discharged, carbonatedwater needs to be additionally produced. That is, in order to preventthe user from waiting for carbonated water when the water level ofcarbonated water is a minimum water level and carbonated water is beingproduced, even if the water level of carbonated water stored in thecarbonated water tank 110 is not less than a minimum water level and ifit is expected that the user won't use carbonated water for a while, therefrigerator 1 can produce carbonated water.

Thus, the refrigerator 1 compares the carbonated water dischargeinstruction waiting time with a maximum discharge instruction waitingtime to determine whether there is a user's intention to drinkcarbonated water, compares the accumulated carbonated water dischargetime with a maximum accumulated discharge time to estimate the amount ofcarbonated water that remains in the carbonated water tank 110, and as aresult, if it is expected that the user won't input the carbonated waterdischarge instruction for a while and carbonated water that remains inthe carbonated water tank 110 is less than a predetermined amount, therefrigerator 1 starts production of carbonated water.

If the carbonated water discharge instruction waiting time is greaterthan or equal to the maximum discharge instruction waiting time and theaccumulated carbonated water discharge time is greater than or equal tothe maximum accumulated discharge time, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1starts production of carbonated water. However, aspects of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto, and if the accumulated carbonatedwater discharge time is greater than or equal to the maximum accumulateddischarge time, the refrigerator 1 can start production of carbonatedwater.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a method of producing carbonated waterusing the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 12, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 can producecarbonated water having three concentrations, such as a first step, asecond step, and a third step (low concentration, medium concentration,and high concentration), and the concentration of carbonated watervaries according to the number of supplying carbon dioxide.

In detail, in order to produce carbonated water having the first step(low concentration), the refrigerator 1 supplies a maximum water levelof filtered water to the carbonated water tank 110 and then suppliescarbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110 during a period of firstcarbon dioxide supply time (6 seconds) and dissolves the supplied carbondioxide during a period of first carbon dioxide dissolving time (4minutes).

In addition, in order to produce carbonated water having the second step(medium concentration), the refrigerator 1 performs a process ofproducing carbonated water having the first step (low concentration) andthen supplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110 during aperiod of second carbon dioxide supply time (4 seconds) and dissolvesthe supplied carbon dioxide during a period of second carbon dioxidedissolving time (8 minutes).

Further, in order to produce carbonated water having the third step(high concentration), the refrigerator 1 performs a process of producingcarbonated water having the second step (medium concentration) and thensupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110 during a periodof third carbon dioxide supply time (5.5 seconds), dissolves thesupplied carbon dioxide during a period of third carbon dioxidedissolving time (12 minutes) and supplies carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank 110 during a period of fourth carbon dioxidesupply time (5.5 seconds).

FIGS. 13A and 13B are views illustrating the method of producingcarbonated water illustrated in FIG. 12.

Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, first, the refrigerator 1 displays thatcarbonated water is being produced (710). In detail, the refrigerator 1may display that carbonated water is being produced in the carbonatedwater production situation display region 301 c, as illustrated in (d)of FIG. 8.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 opens the exhaust valve 251 and thenopens the filtered water supply valve 211 (714). In this way, therefrigerator 1 opens the exhaust valve 251 and opens the filtered watersupply valve 211 so that filtered water can be smoothly supplied to thecarbonated water tank 110. In this case, the refrigerator 1 may open thefiltered water supply valve 211 continuously to supply filtered water tothe carbonated water tank 110.

When a solenoid valve is used as the filtered water supply valve 211, inorder to prevent solenoid from being overheated, the filtered watersupply valve 211 may be opened for a predetermined amount of time andthen may be closed and then may be opened for a predetermined amount oftime. In detail, a process of opening the filtered water supply valve211 for 1 minute and then closing the filtered water supply valve 211for 5 seconds may be repeatedly performed.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 senses a water level of filtered waterthrough the water level sensor 111 (716), compares the sensed waterlevel of filtered water with a predetermined maximum water level todetermine whether filtered water in the carbonated water tank 110reaches the maximum water level (718).

If it is determined that filtered water in the carbonated water tank 110reaches the maximum water level (YES of 718), the refrigerator 1 closesthe filtered water supply valve 211 (720) and closes the exhaust valve251 (722).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 opens the carbon dioxide supply valve202 (724), then determines whether a first carbon dioxide supply time(for example, 6 seconds) elapses (726), and if it determined that thefirst carbon dioxide supply time (for example, 6 seconds) elapses, therefrigerator 1 closes the carbon dioxide supply valve 202 (728). In thismanner, the refrigerator 1 allows carbon dioxide to be supplied to thecarbonated water tank 110 during a period of the first carbon dioxidesupply time (for example, 6 seconds).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 waits during a period of first carbondioxide dissolving time (for example, 4 minutes) (730). That is, therefrigerator 1 allows carbon dioxide supplied to the carbonated watertank 110 to be sufficiently dissolved in filtered water.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the concentration ofcarbonated water selected by the user is “first step (lowconcentration)” (732).

If the concentration of carbonated water selected by the user throughthe control panel 300 is the first step (low concentration) (YES of732), the refrigerator 1 displays that production of carbonated waterhas been completed (758) and terminates production of carbonated water.

If the concentration of carbonated water selected by the user is not thefirst step (low concentration) (NO of 732), the refrigerator 1 opens thecarbon dioxide supply valve 202 (734) and determines whether a secondcarbon dioxide supply time (for example, 4 seconds) that elapses sincethe carbon dioxide supply valve 202 has been opened (736), and if it isdetermined that the second carbon dioxide supply time (for example, 4seconds) elapses (YES of 736), the refrigerator 1 closes the carbondioxide supply valve 202 (738). In this manner, the refrigerator 1supplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110 during a periodof the second carbon dioxide supply time (for example, 4 seconds).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 waits during a period of second carbondioxide dissolving time (for example, 8 minutes) (740). That is, therefrigerator 1 allows carbon dioxide supplied to the carbonated watertank 110 to be sufficiently dissolved in filtered water.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the concentration ofcarbonated water selected by the user is “second step (mediumconcentration)” (742).

If it is determined that the concentration of carbonated water selectedby the user is the second step (medium concentration) (YES of 742), therefrigerator 1 displays that production of carbonated water has beencompleted (758) and terminates production of carbonated water.

If it is determined that the concentration of carbonated water selectedby the user is not the second step (medium concentration) (NO of 742),the refrigerator 1 opens the carbon dioxide supply valve 202 (744) anddetermines whether a third carbon dioxide supply time (for example, 5.5seconds) elapses (746) since the carbon dioxide supply valve 202 hasbeen opened, and if it is determined that the third carbon dioxidesupply time (for example, 5.5 seconds) elapses (YES of 746), therefrigerator 1 closes the carbon dioxide supply valve 202 (748). In thismanner, the refrigerator 1 supplies carbon dioxide to the carbonatedwater tank 110 during a period of the third carbon dioxide supply time(for example, 5.5 seconds).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 waits during a period of third carbondioxide dissolving time (for example, 12 minutes) (750). That is, therefrigerator 1 allows carbon dioxide supplied to the carbonated watertank 110 to be sufficiently dissolved in filtered water.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 opens the carbon dioxide supply valve202 (752) and determines whether a fourth carbon dioxide supply time(for example, 5.5 seconds) elapses (754) since the carbon dioxide supplyvalve 202 has been opened, and if it is determined that the fourthcarbon dioxide supply time (for example, 5.5 seconds) elapses (YES of754), the refrigerator 1 closes the carbon dioxide supply valve 202(756). In this manner, the refrigerator 1 supplies carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank 110 during a period of the fourth carbon dioxidesupply time (for example, 5.5 seconds).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 displays that production of carbonatedwater has been completed (758) and terminates production of carbonatedwater.

The refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 does not consider the temperature offiltered water when carbonated water is produced, and if a predeterminedcarbonated water production starting condition is satisfied, therefrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 produces carbonated water.

Since solubility of gas with respect to liquid increases as thetemperature of liquid is lowered, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 mayproduce carbonated water in consideration of the temperature of filteredwater. For example, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 measures thetemperature of filtered water stored in the carbonated water tank 110since filtered water has been supplied to the carbonated water tank 110,and if the temperature of filtered water stored in the carbonated watertank 110 is higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature, therefrigerator 1 delays supply of carbon dioxide. As described above,since the carbonated water tank 110 is disposed in the refrigeratorcompartment 20, the temperature of filtered water stored in thecarbonated water tank 110 is lowered over time. Thus, if the measuredtemperature of filtered water is lower than or equal to thepredetermined temperature, the refrigerator 1 may supply carbon dioxideto produce carbonated water.

Hereinafter, in case of an exceptional situation like the case that theuser inputs a filtered water discharge instruction or the case that theuser opens the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22 when carbonatedwater is being produced, an operation of the refrigerator 1 will bedescribed.

When carbonated water is being produced, in particular, when filteredwater is being supplied to the carbonated water tank 110, if the userpressurizes the dispenser lever 93 to input a filtered water dischargeinstruction, the refrigerator 1 stops supplying filtered water to thecarbonated water tank 110 and discharges filtered water to the outsidethrough the dispenser 90.

Filtered water supplied to the carbonated water tank 110 and filteredwater discharged to the outside through the dispenser 90 are suppliedfrom the water tank 70, and a water pressure of filtered water when thewater tank 70 supplies filtered water is limited. Thus, if the watertank 70 supplies filtered water to the carbonated water tank 110 andsimultaneously discharges filtered water through the dispenser 90, thewater pressure of filtered water discharged through the dispenser 90 maybe lowered. In this way, if the water pressure of filtered waterdischarged through the dispenser 90 is lowered, the user maymisunderstand that the refrigerator 1 is broken.

In this way, in order to prevent the water pressure of filtered waterdischarged through the dispenser 90 from being lowered, if the userinputs a filtered water discharge instruction when filtered water isbeing supplied to the carbonated water tank 110, the refrigerator 1stops supplying filtered water to the carbonated water tank 110 anddischarges filtered water through the dispenser 90. Subsequently, if theuser inputs the filtered water discharge termination instruction, therefrigerator 1 stops discharging filtered water through the dispenser 90and supplies filtered water to the carbonated water tank 110.

In addition, if the user opens the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and22 when carbonated water is being produced, the refrigerator 1 stopsproduction of carbonated water. That is, if the user opens therefrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22 when filtered water is beingsupplied to the carbonated water tank 110, the refrigerator 1 stopssupplying filtered water to the carbonated water tank 110, and if theuser opens the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22 in which thecarbonated water production module 100 is disposed, when carbon dioxideis being supplied to the carbonated water tank 110, even if a conditionfor supplying carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110 issatisfied, the refrigerator 1 delays supply of carbon dioxide until theuser closes the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22. Also, therefrigerator 1 stops supplying carbon dioxide to the carbonated watertank 110. Since the water tank 70 supplies filtered water to thecarbonated water tank 110 under a high water pressure and the carbondioxide cylinder 120 supplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated watertank 110 under a high pressure, a noise may be generated in a process ofproducing carbonated water. In this way, when the user opens therefrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22, an unpleasant feeling may begiven to the user, and furthermore, the user may misunderstand that therefrigerator 1 is broken.

In this way, in order to prevent a noise from being generated in thecarbonated water production module 100 when the user opens therefrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22, the refrigerator 1 stores theprocess of producing carbonated water and then stops production ofcarbonated water. If the user closes the refrigerator compartment doors21 and 22, the refrigerator 1 continues to produce carbonated water.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are flowcharts illustrating control of therefrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 when an exceptional situation occurs duringcarbonated water production.

Referring to FIGS. 14A and 14B, first, the refrigerator 1 displaysproduction of carbonated water on the control panel 300 (902).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 opens the exhaust valve 251 (904),opens the filtered water supply valve 211 (906), thereby supplyingfiltered water to the carbonated water tank 110.

When filtered water is being supplied to the carbonated water tank 110,the refrigerator 1 determines whether the filtered water dischargeinstruction is input (908). That is, the refrigerator 1 determineswhether the user pressurizes the dispenser lever 93 disposed in thedispenser 90.

If it is determined that the user inputs the filtered water dischargeinstruction (YES of 908), the refrigerator 1 stores a situation in whichcarbonated water is being produced (940).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 closes the filtered water supply valve211 (942) to stop supplying filtered water to the carbonated water tank110, and the refrigerator 1 opens the filtered water discharge valve 221(944) to discharge filtered water to the outside.

When filtered water is being discharged to the outside, the refrigerator1 determines whether a filtered water discharge termination instructionis input (946). That is, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the userstops pressurizing the dispenser lever 93 disposed in the dispenser 90.

If it is determined that the user inputs the filtered water dischargetermination instruction (YES of 946), the refrigerator 1 closes thefiltered water discharge valve 221 (948) to stop discharging filteredwater to the outside, and the refrigerator 1 opens the filtered watersupply valve 211 (950) and loads carbonated water production progresssituation (952) to restart production of carbonated water.

If it is determined that the user does not input the filtered waterdischarge instruction (NO of 908), the refrigerator 1 determines whetherthe refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22 are opened (910).

If it is determined that the user opens the refrigerator compartmentdoors 21 and 22 (YES of 910), the refrigerator 1 stores a situation inwhich carbonated water is being produced (930).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 closes the filtered water supply valve211 (932) to stop production of carbonated water.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the refrigeratorcompartment doors 21 and 22 are closed (934).

If it is determined that the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22are closed (YES of 934), the refrigerator 1 opens the filtered watersupply valve 211 (936) and loads carbonated water production progresssituation (938) to restart production of carbonated water.

If the user does not open the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22(NO of 910), the refrigerator 1 senses a water level of filtered waterin the carbonated water tank 110 (912).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the water level offiltered water in the carbonated water tank 110 reaches a maximum waterlevel (914).

If it is determined that the water level of filtered water in thecarbonated water tank 110 does not reach the maximum water level (NO of914), the refrigerator 1 repeatedly determines whether the filteredwater discharge instruction is input, whether the refrigeratorcompartment doors 21 and 22 are opened, and whether the water level offiltered water in the carbonated water tank 110 reaches the maximumwater level.

If it is determined that the water level of filtered water in thecarbonated water tank 110 reaches the maximum water level (YES of 914),the refrigerator 1 closes the filtered water supply valve 211 (916) andcloses the exhaust valve 251 (918), thereby terminating supply offiltered water to the carbonated water tank 110.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 opens the carbon dioxide supply valve202 (920), thereby supplying carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank110.

When carbon dioxide is being supplied to the carbonated water tank 110,the refrigerator 1 determines whether the refrigerator compartment doors21 and 22 are opened (922).

If it is determined that the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22are opened (YES of 922), the refrigerator 1 stores a situation in whichcarbonated water is being produced (960).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 closes the carbon dioxide supply valve202 (962), thereby stopping production of carbonated water.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the refrigeratorcompartment doors 21 and 22 are closed (964).

If it is determined that the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22are closed (YES of 964), the refrigerator 1 opens the carbon dioxidesupply valve 202 (966) and loads carbonated water production progresssituation (968) to restart production of carbonated water.

If it is determined that the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22are not opened (NO of 922), the refrigerator 1 determines whether acarbon dioxide supply time elapses (924).

If it is determined that the carbon dioxide supply time does not elapse,the refrigerator 1 repeatedly determines whether the refrigeratorcompartment doors 21 and 22 are opened and whether the carbon dioxidesupply time elapses.

If it is determined that the carbon dioxide supply time elapses, therefrigerator 1 closes the carbon dioxide supply valve 202 (926).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether a carbon dioxidedissolving time elapses (928).

If it is determined that the carbon dioxide dissolving time elapses, therefrigerator 1 displays that production of carbonated water has beencompleted on the control panel 300 (929).

As described above, producing carbonated water using the refrigerator 1of FIG. 1 has been described.

Hereinafter, managing produced carbonated water since the refrigerator 1of FIG. 1 has produced carbonated water will be described.

As described above, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 discharges carbonatedwater to the outside using the pressure of carbon dioxide supplied tothe carbonated water tank 110. Thus, the pressure of carbon dioxide inthe carbonated water tank 110 needs to be maintained at a predeterminedvalue or more. If the pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated watertank 110 is not maintained at the predetermined value or more, the waterpressure of carbonated water discharged by the refrigerator 1 islowered, and the user may misunderstand that the refrigerator 1 isbroken.

However, as time elapses since carbonated water has been produced,carbon dioxide is dissolved in filtered water, and the pressure ofcarbon dioxide in the carbonated water tank 110 is gradually decreased.Thus, if a predetermined condition for maintaining the pressure ofcarbon dioxide in the carbonated water tank 110 is satisfied, carbondioxide needs to be supplied to the carbonated water tank 110.

There are three main causes of a reduction in the pressure of carbondioxide in the carbonated water tank 110.

The first cause of the reduction in the pressure of carbon dioxide inthe carbonated water tank 110 is that the temperature of carbonatedwater is lowered. Solubility of gas with respect to liquid is increasedas the temperature of liquid is lowered. As the temperature ofcarbonated water is lowered, the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved infiltered water increases. Thus, as the temperature of carbonated wateris lowered, the pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated water tank110 is decreased. Thus, if the temperature of carbonated water in thecarbonated water tank 110 is lowered, the refrigerator 1 supplies carbondioxide to the carbonated water tank 110.

FIG. 15A is a flowchart illustrating the case that the refrigerator 1 ofFIG. 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110according to the temperature of carbonated water.

Referring to FIG. 15A, first, the refrigerator 1 determines whetherproduction of carbonated water has been completed (812).

If it is determined that production of carbonated water has not beencompleted (NO of 812), the refrigerator 1 waits until production ofcarbonated water is completed, and if production of carbonated water iscompleted (YES of 812), the refrigerator 1 senses the temperature ofcarbonated water through the temperature sensor 112 (813), therefrigerator 1 sets a difference between the temperature of carbonatedwater sensed in Operation 813 and a predetermined temperature intervalas a reference temperature (814). That is, the reference temperature isinitialized as the difference between the temperature of carbonatedwater immediately after production of carbonated water has beencompleted and the predetermined temperature interval. For example, ifthe temperature of carbonated water is 15° C. and the temperatureinterval is 5° C., the reference temperature is initialized as 10° C.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 senses the temperature of carbonatedwater through the temperature sensor 112 (815).

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 compares the temperature of carbonatedwater sensed in Operation 815 with the reference temperature anddetermines whether the temperature of carbonated water is less than orequal to the reference temperature (816). For example, the refrigerator1 determines whether the temperature of carbonated water is less than orequal to 10° C.

If it is determined that the temperature of carbonated water is lessthan or equal to the reference temperature (YES of 816), therefrigerator 1 opens the carbon dioxide supply valve 202 (818),determines whether a carbon dioxide resupply time elapses (820), and ifit is determined that the carbon dioxide resupply time elapses (YES of820), the refrigerator 1 closes the carbon dioxide supply valve 202(822). That is, if it is determined that the temperature of carbonatedwater is less than or equal to the reference temperature, therefrigerator 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank110 during a period of the carbon dioxide resupply time. In this case,the carbon dioxide resupply time may be set to 1 second. In this case,since supplying carbon dioxide is used not to produce carbonated waterbut to maintain an internal pressure of the carbonated water tank 110,the carbon dioxide resupply time may be shorter than a carbon dioxidesupply time for producing carbonated water.

After carbon dioxide has been resupplied to the carbonated water tank110, the refrigerator 1 sets a value that is obtained by subtracting thetemperature interval from the reference temperature to a new referencetemperature (824). For example, if the reference temperature is 10° C.and the temperature interval is 5° C., 5° C. is the new referencetemperature.

If it is determined in Operation 816 that the temperature of carbonatedwater is not less than or equal to the reference temperature (NO of816), the refrigerator 1 omits resupplying carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank 110.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether a carbonated waterproduction condition is satisfied (826), and if production of carbonatedwater does not start, the refrigerator 1 goes back to Operation 815 andrepeatedly senses the temperature of carbonated water and compares thetemperature of carbonated water with the reference temperature.

Consequently, whenever the temperature of carbonated water is lowered bythe temperature interval when production of carbonated water iscompleted, the refrigerator 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank 110. For example, if the temperature of carbonatedwater is 15° C. and a first temperature interval is 5° C. whenproduction of carbonated water is completed, whenever the temperature ofcarbonated water is 10° C., 5° C., and 0° C., the refrigerator 1resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110.

The refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonatedwater tank 110 whenever the temperature of carbonated water stored inthe carbonated water tank 110 is lowered by a predetermined temperature.However, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, andwhen the temperature of carbonated water stored in the carbonated watertank 110 is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature, therefrigerator 1 may resupply carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank110.

The second cause of the reduction in the pressure of carbon dioxide inthe carbonated water tank 110 is that the amount of carbonated water inthe carbonated water tank 110 is reduced. If the user dischargescarbonated water after production of carbonated water has beencompleted, the volume of carbonated water is decreased by the amount ofcarbonated water discharged by the user and thus the pressure of carbondioxide in the carbonated water tank 110 is reduced. Thus, if the userdischarges carbonated water, the refrigerator 1 resupplies carbondioxide to the carbonated water tank 110 to increase the pressure ofcarbon dioxide in the carbonated water tank 110.

FIG. 15B is a flowchart illustrating the case that the refrigerator 1 ofFIG. 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110 whencarbonated water is discharged.

Referring to FIG. 15B, first, the refrigerator 1 determines whetherproduction of carbonated water is completed (832).

If it is determined that production of carbonated water is not completed(NO of 832), the refrigerator 1 waits until production of carbonatedwater is completed, and if it is determined that production ofcarbonated water is completed (YES of 832), the refrigerator 1 stores apredetermined first time interval in a first reference time (834). Thatis, the first reference time is initialized as the predetermined firsttime interval. In this case, the first time interval varies according tothe capacity of the carbonated water tank 110 and the discharge speed ofcarbonated water. However, if the carbonated water tank 110 is about 1 land all carbonated water stored in the carbonated water tank 110 isdischarged for 1 minute, the first time interval may be set to 10seconds. That is, the first reference time may be initialized as 10seconds.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 compares an accumulated carbonatedwater discharge time with the first reference time and determineswhether the accumulated carbonated water discharge time is greater thanor equal to the first reference time (836). Here, the accumulatedcarbonated water discharge time means a total time at which the useroperates the dispenser lever 93 disposed in the dispenser 90 aftercarbonated water has been produced so that carbonated water isdischarged. That is, the accumulated carbonated water discharge time isthe same as the accumulated carbonated water discharge time illustratedin FIG. 11. As described above, the amount of carbonated water thatremains in the carbonated water tank 110 may be estimated through theaccumulated carbonated water discharge time.

If it is determined that the accumulated carbonated water discharge timeis greater than or equal to the first reference time (YES of 836), therefrigerator 1 opens the carbon dioxide supply valve 202 (838) anddetermines whether the carbon dioxide resupply time elapses (840), andif it is determined that the carbon dioxide resupply time elapses (YESof 840), the refrigerator 1 closes the carbon dioxide supply valve 202(842). That is, if a time at which carbonated water is discharged by theuser is greater than or equal to the first reference time, therefrigerator 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank110 during a period of the carbon dioxide resupply time. In this case,the carbon dioxide resupply time may be set to 1 second. As describedabove, the carbon dioxide resupply time for maintaining the pressure inthe carbonated water tank 110 may be shorter than the carbon dioxidesupply time for producing carbonated water.

After carbon dioxide has been resupplied to the carbonated water tank110, the refrigerator 1 sets the sum of the first reference time and thefirst time interval as a new reference time (844). For example, if thefirst reference time is 10 seconds and the first time interval is 10seconds, 20 seconds are a new first reference time.

If it is determined in Operation 836 that the accumulated carbonatedwater discharge time is not greater than or equal to the first referencetime (NO of 836), the refrigerator 1 omits resupplying carbon dioxide tothe carbonated water tank 110.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether a carbonated waterproduction condition is satisfied (846), and if production of carbonatedwater does not start, the refrigerator 1 goes back to Operation 836 andrepeatedly compares the accumulated carbonated water discharge time withthe first reference time.

Consequently, whenever the accumulated carbonated water discharge timeis increased by the first time interval, because the user dischargescarbonated water after production of carbonated water has beencompleted, the refrigerator 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank 110. For example, if the first time interval is 10seconds, whenever the accumulated carbonated water discharge time is 10seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, and 50 seconds, therefrigerator 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank110.

The third cause of the reduction in the pressure of carbon dioxide inthe carbonated water tank 110 is that carbonated water is not used butis stored in the carbonated water tank 110 for a long time. Ifcarbonated water is not discharged after being produced but is stored inthe carbonated water tank 110 for a long time, carbon dioxide isgradually dissolved in carbonated water and the pressure of carbondioxide in the carbonated water tank 110 is lowered. Thus, if the userdoes not discharge carbonated water and carbonated water is stored inthe carbonated water tank 110 for a long time, the refrigerator 1resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110 to increasethe pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated water tank 110.

FIG. 15C is a flowchart illustrating the case that the refrigerator 1 ofFIG. 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110 whencarbonated water is not discharged.

Referring to FIG. 15C, first, the refrigerator 1 determines whetherproduction of carbonated water is completed (852).

If it is determined that production of carbonated water is not completed(NO of 852), the refrigerator 1 waits until production of carbonatedwater is completed, and if it is determined that production ofcarbonated water is completed (YES of 852), the refrigerator 1 stores apredetermined second time interval in a second reference time (854).That is, the second reference time is initialized as a predeterminedsecond time interval. In this case, the second time interval variesaccording to the capacity of the carbonated water tank 110. However, ifthe carbonated water tank 110 is about 1 l, the second time interval maybe set to 2 hours. That is, the second reference time may be initializedas 2 hours.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 compares a carbonated water dischargeinstruction waiting time with the second reference time and determineswhether the carbonated water discharge instruction waiting time isgreater than or equal to the second reference time (856). Here, thecarbonated water discharge instruction waiting time means a time thatelapses until now since the user operates the dispenser lever 93 andcarbonated water has been discharged. That is, the carbonated waterdischarge instruction waiting time is the same as the carbonated waterdischarge instruction waiting time illustrated in FIG. 11.

If it is determined that the carbonated water discharge instructionwaiting time is greater than or equal to the second reference time (YESof 856), the refrigerator 1 opens the carbon dioxide supply valve 202(858), determines whether the carbon dioxide resupply time elapses(860), and if it is determined that the carbon dioxide resupply timeelapses (YES of 860), the refrigerator 1 closes the carbon dioxidesupply valve 202 (862). That is, if a time at which the user does notdischarge carbonated water is greater than or equal to the secondreference time, the refrigerator 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank 110 during a period of the carbon dioxide resupplytime. In this case, the carbon dioxide resupply time may be set to 1second. As described above, the carbon dioxide resupply time formaintaining the pressure in the carbonated water tank 110 may be shorterthan the carbon dioxide supply time for producing carbonated water.

After carbon dioxide has been resupplied to the carbonated water tank110, the refrigerator 1 sets the sum of the second reference time andthe second time interval as a new reference time (864). For example, ifthe second reference time is 2 hours and the second time interval is 2hours, 4 hours are a new second reference time.

If it is determined in Operation 856 that the carbonated water dischargeinstruction waiting time is not greater than or equal to the secondreference time (NO of 856), the refrigerator 1 omits resupplying carbondioxide to the carbonated water tank 110.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether a carbonated waterproduction condition is satisfied (866), and if production of carbonatedwater does not start, the refrigerator 1 goes back to Operation 856 andrepeatedly compares the carbonated water discharge instruction waitingtime with the second reference time.

Consequently, whenever the carbonated water discharge instructionwaiting time is increased by the second time interval, because the userdoes not discharge carbonated water after production of carbonated waterhas been completed, the refrigerator 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to thecarbonated water tank 110. For example, if the second time interval is 2hours, whenever the carbonated water discharge instruction waiting timeis 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, and 10 hours, the refrigerator 1resupplies carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank 110.

As described above, filtered water for producing carbonated water issupplied through a water supply source, whereas carbon dioxide issupplied through the carbon dioxide cylinder 120, and the amount ofcarbon dioxide stored in the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 is limited.

If the greater part of carbon dioxide stored in the carbon dioxidecylinder 120 is exhausted and the pressure of carbon dioxide dischargedfrom the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 is decreased, first of all, theconcentration of carbonated water is lowered. That is, since the amountof carbon dioxide supplied to the carbonated water tank 110 is notsufficient, the concentration of carbonated water is lowered.Subsequently, if all carbon dioxide stored in the carbon dioxidecylinder 120 is exhausted, carbonated water is not produced.

In addition, if the pressure of carbon dioxide discharged from thecarbon dioxide cylinder 120 is reduced, carbonated water is notdischarged through the dispenser 90. As described above, carbonatedwater is discharged to the outside by an atmospheric pressure in thecarbonated water tank 110, and if the pressure of carbon dioxide isreduced, the refrigerator 1 resupplies carbon dioxide to uniformlymaintain the pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonated water tank110. In this case, if the pressure of carbon dioxide discharged from thecarbon dioxide cylinder 120 is reduced, even when carbon dioxide isresupplied to the carbonated water tank 110, the pressure of carbondioxide in the carbonated water tank 110 cannot be maintained at asufficient pressure, and if the pressure of carbon dioxide in thecarbonated water tank 110 is reduced, carbonated water is not dischargedthrough the dispenser 90.

Thus, the carbon dioxide cylinder 120 needs to be replaced at apredetermined time interval. Thus, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 sensesthe pressure of carbon dioxide through the pressure sensor 204, and ifthe sensed pressure of carbon dioxide is less than or equal to apredetermined reference pressure, replacement of carbon dioxide cylinder120 is displayed on the control panel 300.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the case that the refrigerator 1 ofFIG. 1 senses pressure of carbon dioxide.

Referring to FIG. 16, first, the refrigerator 1 senses the pressure ofcarbon dioxide through the pressure sensor 204 (870). As describedabove, the pressure sensor 204 is disposed at an output terminal of thecarbon dioxide regulator 201 and senses the pressure of carbon dioxidedischarged from the carbon dioxide regulator 201.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 compares the pressure of carbon dioxidewith a predetermined reference pressure and determines whether thepressure of carbon dioxide is less than or equal to the referencepressure (872).

If it is determined that the pressure of carbon dioxide is not less thanor equal to the reference pressure (NO of 872), the refrigerator 1senses the pressure of carbon dioxide and repeatedly compares the sensedpressure of carbon dioxide with the reference pressure.

If it is determined that the pressure of carbon dioxide is less than orequal to the reference pressure (YES of 872), the refrigerator 1 warnsthe user that the pressure of carbon dioxide has been reduced (874).That is, the refrigerator 1 warns the user to replace the carbon dioxidecylinder 120 in the carbon dioxide low-pressure display region 305disposed in the control panel 300. In addition, the refrigerator 1 maystop production of carbonated water if the pressure of carbon dioxide isless than or equal to the reference pressure.

In addition, if it is determined that the pressure of carbon dioxide isless than or equal to the reference pressure, the refrigerator 1 may notproduce carbonated water even if the above-described carbonated waterproduction condition is satisfied. For example, even when the waterlevel of carbonated water is less than or equal to a minimum waterlevel, the refrigerator 1 may not produce carbonated water.

When a pressure switch is used as the pressure sensor 204, an output ofthe pressure switch is connected to the display unit, and if thepressure of carbon dioxide is less than or equal to the referencepressure, the pressure switch may transfer a low-pressure signal to thedisplay unit, and the display unit may display a low pressure of carbondioxide in the carbon dioxide low-pressure display region 305.

As described above, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 has produced andmanaged the carbonated water.

Hereinafter, discharging carbonated water using the refrigerator 1 ofFIG. 1 according to a user's instruction will be described.

If the user pressurizes the dispenser lever 93 disposed in the dispenser90 to input a carbonated water discharge instruction, the refrigerator 1discharges carbonated water by opening the carbonated water dischargevalve 231, and if the user stops pressurizing the dispenser lever 93 toinput a carbonated water discharge termination instruction, therefrigerator 1 stops discharging of carbonated water by closing thecarbonated water discharge valve 231.

FIG. 17 is a view schematically illustrating the case that therefrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 discharges carbonated water.

Referring to FIG. 17, the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 discharges carbonatedwater through the dispenser 90 if a carbonated water dischargeinstruction is input from the user. In detail, if the refrigerator 1opens the carbonated water discharge valve 231, carbonated water ismoved along the carbonated water discharge flow path 230 from thecarbonated water tank 110, and in this procedure, carbonated water isdischarged to the outside via the carbonated water regulator 232, thecarbonated water discharge valve 231, and the remaining water dischargeprevention valve 241.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating the case that the refrigerator 1 of FIG.1 discharges carbonated water.

Referring to FIG. 18, the refrigerator 1 determines whether a carbonatedwater discharge instruction is input from the user (880). As describedabove, the user pressurizes the dispenser lever 93 disposed in thedispenser 90 to input the carbonated water discharge instruction.

If the carbonated water discharge instruction is input (YES of 880), therefrigerator 1 opens the remaining water discharge prevention valve 241(882), and then the refrigerator 1 opens the carbonated water dischargevalve 231 (884).

In this way, when carbonated water is discharged, the remaining waterdischarge prevention valve 241 is first opened and then the carbonatedwater discharge valve 231 is opened so as to prevent the remaining waterdischarge prevention valve 241 from being damaged.

The remaining water discharge prevention valve 241 is used to preventremaining water in the integrated discharge flow path 240 from beingdischarged and is not designed to withstand a high pressure. That is,the remaining water discharge prevention valve 241 may be easily damagedby the discharge pressure of carbonated water compared to the carbonatedwater discharge valve 231. In addition, when a large amount of carbondioxide that is not dissolved in carbonated water exists in thecarbonated water tank 110, the discharge pressure of carbonated watermay be increased. When the high discharge pressure of carbonated wateris suddenly transferred to the remaining water discharge preventionvalve 241, the remaining water discharge prevention valve 241 may bedamaged.

Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the carbonated waterdischarge termination instruction is input (886). As described above,the user may input the carbonated water discharge terminationinstruction by stopping pressurizing the dispenser lever 93.

If the carbonated water discharge termination instruction is input (YESof 886), the refrigerator 1 closes the carbonated water discharge valve231 (888) and then closes the remaining water discharge prevention valve241 (890).

In this way, when carbonated water discharge is terminated, thecarbonated water discharge valve 231 is first closed and then theremaining water discharge prevention valve 241 is closed so as toprevent damage of the remaining water discharge prevention valve 241.That is, if the remaining water discharge prevention valve 241 is closedwhile carbonated water is discharged, the remaining water dischargeprevention valve 241 may be damaged by the discharge pressure ofcarbonated water.

Consequently, when carbonated water is discharged, the remaining waterdischarge prevention valve 241 is opened and then the carbonated waterdischarge valve 231 is opened, and when carbonated water discharge isterminated, the carbonated water discharge valve 231 is closed and thenthe remaining water discharge prevention valve 241 is closed so thatdamage of the remaining water discharge prevention valve 241 can beprevented.

According to the spirit of the present disclosure, filtered water andcarbonated water can be selectively taken, and if it is expected thatthe storage amount of the carbonated water is reduced or the user won'tuse the carbonated water for a while, carbonated water is automaticallyproduced so that the user is not required to wait while the carbonatewater is produced.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would beappreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made inthese embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit ofthe disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator comprising: a carbonated watertank in which carbonated water is storable; a water level sensorconfigured to sense a water level of carbonated water in the carbonatedwater tank; a water tank in which water is storable; a carbon dioxidecylinder in which carbon dioxide is storable; and a controllerconfigured to: supply water from the water tank to the carbonated watertank, if the water level sensed by the water level sensor is below apredetermined minimum water level, and supply carbon dioxide from thecarbon dioxide cylinder to the carbonated water tank, if the water levelsensed by the water level sensor is above a predetermined maximum waterlevel, wherein, if the carbonated water is discharged, the controllercontrols the water level sensor to sense the water level of thecarbonated water in the carbonated water tank.
 2. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 1, further comprising a dispenser discharging thecarbonated water, wherein, if the carbonated water is discharged throughthe dispenser, the controller calculates an accumulated discharge timeat which all the carbonated water is discharged since the carbonatedwater has been produced.
 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2,wherein, if the accumulated discharge time is greater than or equal to apredetermined maximum accumulated discharge time, the controllerproduces the carbonated water.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim 2,wherein, if the carbonated water is not discharged, the controllercalculates a discharge waiting time since the carbonated water has beendischarged, and if the discharge waiting time is greater than or equalto a predetermined maximum discharge waiting time and the accumulateddischarge time is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximumaccumulated discharge time, the controller produces the carbonatedwater.
 5. A refrigerator comprising: a carbonated water tank in whichcarbonated water is storable; a water level sensor configured to sense awater level of carbonated water in the carbonated water tank; a watertank in which water is storable; a carbon dioxide cylinder in whichcarbon dioxide is storable; and a controller configured to: supply waterfrom the water tank to the carbonated water tank, if the water levelsensed by the water level sensor is below a predetermined minimum waterlevel, and supply carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide cylinder to thecarbonated water tank, if the water level sensed by the water levelsensor is above a predetermined maximum water level.
 6. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 5, further comprising a dispenser discharging thecarbonated water, wherein, if the carbonated water is discharged throughthe dispenser, the controller calculates an accumulated discharge timeat which all the carbonated water is discharged since the carbonatedwater has been produced, and if the accumulated discharge time isgreater than or equal to a predetermined maximum accumulated dischargetime, the controller produces the carbonated water.
 7. A refrigeratorcomprising: a carbonated water tank in which carbonated water isstorable; a water level sensor configured to sense a water level ofcarbonated water in the carbonated water tank; a water tank in whichwater is storable; a carbon dioxide cylinder in which carbon dioxide isstorable; an input unit configured to receive a user input for producingthe carbonated water from a user; and a controller configured to: supplywater from the water tank to the carbonated water tank, if the userinput for producing the carbonated water is input through the inputunit, and supply carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide cylinder to thecarbonated water tank, if the water level sensed by the water levelsensor is above a predetermined maximum water level.
 8. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 7, wherein, if the carbonated water productionactivation instruction is input from the user, the controller determineswhether carbonated water production is being performed when thecarbonated water production activation instruction is input, and if itis determined that carbonated water production is being performed whenthe carbonated water production activation instruction is input, thecontroller restarts production of carbonated water being performed.